When you're badly injured, the last thing you want to think about is filling out paperwork, searching for an attorney, or trying to gather evidence. Yet, these steps are necessary if you want to collect the compensation you deserve due to someone else's negligence. The more you know about personal injury cases and hiring an attorney, the less stressful this time will be.
We've created this website to offer basic personal injury law advice for anyone who has been injured or who may become injured in the future. Keep in mind that if you've been injured in a car accident, due to medical neglect, or even by slipping in someone else's parking lot, your case qualifies a personal injury case — and thus you'll find our collection of articles relevant.
When people think about collecting workers' compensation benefits after being injured on the job, they tend to think of a single traumatic event that resulted in injury. For instance, they may think of an accident involving a slip and fall or an injury caused by equipment that is not functioning properly. However, there is another type of injury that is also covered by workers' compensation. This type of injury is known as a repetitive stress injury.
What Is A Repetitive Stress Injury?
A repetitive stress injury is an injury that occurs as the result of performing the same task or the same movement repeatedly over the course of months or years. Carpal tunnel, tendinitis, and tennis elbow are among some of the most common types of repetitive stress injuries. While just about anyone can develop this type of workplace injury, these injuries are most common among individuals who work in an office setting or who are required to perform a single task over and over again throughout the workday.
What Should You Do If You Believe You Have A Repetitive Stress Injury?
The most important step for you to take is to inform your employer as soon as you think you may be suffering from a work-related repetitive stress injury. The reason that this is so important is that when filing a workers' compensation claim, your benefits will often date back to the day you suffered the injury. The date that you report this injury to your employer is typically used as the date you are said to have begun suffering from the injury, so you will not want to delay reporting your suspicions.
When reporting your suspicions to your employer, be sure to specifically ask to see a medical professional to confirm a diagnosis. This will ensure that workers' compensation will cover the cover any costs associated with your medical care.
What Type Of Benefits Can You Expect To Collect?
If your doctor agrees that you have suffered a repetitive stress injury as a result of performing your job duties, you may be entitled to receive compensation for both your medical bills as well as either temporary or permanent disability payments if you must take time off of work in order to recover. Unfortunately, insurance companies often challenge these types of workers' compensation claims and may make it difficult to recover the benefits that you are entitled to. This is why it is always a good idea to retain the services of a workers' compensation attorney when filing this type of workers' comp claim.